23 | Friday, January2015 | 30, | Friday, Artscene “Connected to your Community” Taj Chohan vies for MasterChef Canada title OAKVILLE BEAVER can lamb curry stew, which was served with Chohan’s audition dish melds lemon couscous and butternut squash inside the carved out squash as the bowl. Canadian and Indian palates “Generally, I’m pretty good as far as nerves go. It was definitely something I had prepared quite a bit for. Something like this, you want to | www.insideHALTON.com by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff make sure you’ve mastered your dish and what you want to portray to the judges.” It was enough to impress the judges to make aj Chohan said he didn’t feel any added him one of the 49 finalists. pressure to make it a repeat win for The 28-year-old accountant said he was defi- T Oakville as he vied for the MasterChef nitely expecting the competition to be a chal- Canada title in the show’s second season. lenging one. Oakville’s Eric Chong won the cooking “I’ve watched previous seasons of the show, competition during the inaugural season of in Canada, the U.S. and Australia, so I had a the series last year, which averaged 1.8 million good understanding of what was required and viewers in Canada. what it took to progress,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was really something on my mind,” said Chohan, who is among the 49 finalists forMasterChef Canada’s second I remember getting fed up with the season. “It’s definitely tough enough competition as food my family was eating every day. it is. The people that make it to Top 49 make it We’re a traditional Indian family and there because they’re passionate; they have skill you have certain things picked out and something to bring to the table. for you: what you’re supposed to do “Everyone who makes it to that point, with your life, what you’re supposed to comes to win. So, you have to give it your all. You have to be in the mindset that you’re going eat... I remember biking down to the to take the top prize. Everything you do has to local grocery store one day and getting be with the intent that you’re going to win.” ingredients and trying to wing it... Chohan, who has been a local resident for (Cooking) is really something I found I 23 years, recently moved to Vancouver in No- could rebel with and be unique.... vember 2014. Since MasterChef Canada’s second season Taj Chohan was filmed in September and October last MasterChef Canada season 2 finalist year, he will still be tagged as from Oakville for the show, which sees competitors from across Canada vying for the MasterChef title and a Cooking has been a passion for Chohan $100,000 cash prize. since he was a child, he said. In each episode of the CTV series, partici- “I remember getting fed up with the food my pants compete in individual and team-based family was eating every day. We’re a traditional cooking challenges for judges Michael Bonaci- Indian family and you have certain things ni, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile. picked out for you: what you’re supposed to do One or more home cooks are eliminated with your life, what you’re supposed to eat... from the competition each week. I remember biking down to the local grocery The first two episodes are the audition pro- store one day and getting ingredients and try- cess to find out which Top 16 finalists earn ing to wing it,” he said. their white aprons and the chance to eventu- “That was when I would say I realized that I ally head to the finale. really love cooking. There’s a vast amount of in- Chohan had actually applied for the first sea- gredients and styles of cooking and methods of Oakville’s Taj Chohan prepares his signature dish for the MasterChef Canada judges in hopes of moving on in son of MasterChef Canada, but was contacted making the food, and there’s just an unlimited the competition. The second season of the CTV series premieres Sunday (Feb. 1) after Super Bowl XLIX. by producers last summer for a chance to audi- number of combinations to experiment with. | photo courtesy CTV tion for the show’s second season. “So, it’s really something I found I could reb- “I honestly couldn’t believe it... it wasn’t el with and be unique, an individual, and think audition episodes. that incorporates travel, culture and food. something I was expecting,” he said. outside the box.” “I wanted to meld together my experiences “MasterChef has really provided a platform During the open auditions in Toronto, Cho- Chohan said he regularly gets out of his of living in Canada and my roots in Indian her- for me to pursue my dreams,” he added. han was tasked to cook a signature dish for comfort zone by trying to find and create meals itage,” said Chohan. “I took a recipe from my MasterChef Canada season two premieres the judges and have it tasted. He also met with he hasn’t cooked before. grandmother for lamb curry and turned it into Sunday (Feb. 1) after Super Bowl XLIX on CTV some of the producers to tell them why he “I draw a lot of inspiration from the things I a pulled lamb, served over poutine.” at approximately 10 p.m., eastern standard time. wanted to be on the show and what inspires see and haven’t seen before... I just try and pull Chohan says the MasterChef Canada experi- The series will also be streamed on demand him to cook. inspiration from anywhere I can,” he said. ence has truly inspired and pushed him to fol- on CTV GO, with encore showings Fridays at “I wasn’t nervous because I knew I had a That’s how he was able to come up with low his culinary dreams, noting he would love 9 p.m. on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. on CTV Two spectacular dish,” said Chohan of his Moroc- his signature curry lamb poutine dish for the to have a chef-Anthony-Bourdain type of show and Sundays at 5 p.m. on CTV..